the vifert was meant to highlight the consequences of letting the tax cuts expire on the middle class. >> if this family has a couple thousand dollars throast spend it is what the consumers are going to be spending next year. >> democratic leaders are arguing in favor of a tax rate hike on the very rich. >> the people who are making this money are willing to pay the extra money. the american people believe they should pay the extra money. >> republican leaders labeling the president as a spendinged a dignity. >> it is about spending more than he already has. >> economists say that joint economic committee hearing turge two sides to compromise. >> you have to nail this down. >> one telling lawmakers it will take a combination of higher tax rates, tax reform, and spending cuts to avert the fiscal cliff. >> i think the president's proposal is short. i think to get where we need to get my $3 trillion target we need $1.2 trillion in spending cuts. >> a growing number of house republicans are open the raising tax rids on the wealthy but only if it is part of a larger reduction deal. >> auth